Cam Unisex
Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: KAM //kæm//
Origin: English; Scottish
Meaning: English: short form of Cameron; Scottish: crooked nose
Historical & Cultural Background
The name Cam is derived from the Scottish surname, which itself is a diminutive of the name Cameron. The etymology of Cameron traces back to the Scottish Gaelic "Camarún," meaning "crooked nose." This name was historically used to denote a family lineage, particularly associated with the clan Cameron in Scotland, which emerged prominently in the 13th century.
The transition from surname to given name occurred over time, particularly as surnames began to be adopted as first names in the 19th century, reflecting a broader trend in naming practices across various cultures. Historically, the name Cameron gained recognition through notable figures, including the 18th-century Scottish poet and novelist, Sir Walter Scott, who contributed to the romanticized view of Scottish heritage.
The name's association with the clan Cameron, which played a significant role in the Jacobite uprisings of the 17th and 18th centuries, further solidified its place in Scottish history. The clan's involvement in key battles, such as the Battle of Culloden in 1746, has imbued the name with a sense of historical significance and cultural pride.
In addition to its historical roots, Cam has also been embraced in various cultural contexts, often symbolizing strength and resilience. The name has been used in literature and media, reinforcing its connection to themes of bravery and loyalty.
A notable diminutive form, Cammy, has also emerged, often used affectionately in familial or friendly contexts. Overall, the name Cam carries with it a rich tapestry of linguistic heritage and cultural resonance, reflecting both its Scottish origins and its broader significance in the context of personal identity.
Famous people named Cam
In this section, you will find notable people named Cam. We include individuals across a wide range of fields, including actors known for their work in film, television, and stage productions. You'll also find musicians, directors, and other public figures named Cam who have made a significant impact on popular culture.
We also feature individuals named Cam who have made meaningful contributions to science, politics, athletics, literature, and other areas of public interest.
Please note that not every baby name in our database currently has a famous namesake listed. If you would like to suggest a name we may have missed or submit a correction, feel free to contact us. We review and finalize additions and corrections within 24 hours.
Cam Newton is a professional football player best known for his time with the Carolina Panthers and winning the NFL MVP award.
Fictional characters named Cam
The following list of fictional characters named Cam is a work in progress. If you would like to suggest an additional character, please send us the character's name along with a brief, one-sentence description of what they are best known for.
You may also submit corrections, which we will review and update as quickly as possible.
Cam is a fictional character from the animated series Cam & Leon. He is a young boy who embarks on adventures with his best friend, Leon, navigating the challenges of childhood together.
Sibling suggestions
If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Cam, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.
Similar names
Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Cam. These names can serve as alternatives to the sibling suggestions listed above and may help you find the perfect complementary name for your growing family.
U.S. Historical Usage
The name Cam was first seen in the United States in 1892.
Cam has ranked as high as #2858 nationally, which occurred in 2024, and has been most popular in Texas, California, Ohio, Louisiana, and Illinois.
In the past 5 years the name Cam has been trending up compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
The name Cam is part of our comprehensive baby names database, which includes Social Security Administration (SSA) data dating back to 1880—the first official year of state and national tracking. The chart below shows when Cam was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.
Popularity Over Time (National) — Table
We track the national popularity of each baby name annually. The table below displays each year along with the number of births reported by the Social Security Administration. This data combines all state-level reporting from the SSA's baby names database to provide a comprehensive view of overall birth counts for Cam.
| Year | Total Births | Boy | Girl |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 139 | 131 | 8 |
| 2024 | 139 | 129 | 10 |
| 2023 | 128 | 128 | 0 |
| 2022 | 122 | 122 | 0 |
| 2021 | 125 | 120 | 5 |
| 2020 | 98 | 91 | 7 |
| 2019 | 102 | 97 | 5 |
| 2018 | 76 | 76 | 0 |
| 2017 | 109 | 104 | 5 |
| 2016 | 108 | 103 | 5 |
| 2015 | 101 | 96 | 5 |
| 2014 | 95 | 95 | 0 |
| 2013 | 82 | 82 | 0 |
| 2012 | 100 | 100 | 0 |
| 2011 | 91 | 83 | 8 |
| 2010 | 50 | 50 | 0 |
| 2009 | 46 | 46 | 0 |
| 2008 | 26 | 26 | 0 |
| 2007 | 41 | 41 | 0 |
| 2006 | 22 | 22 | 0 |
| 2005 | 24 | 24 | 0 |
| 2004 | 19 | 19 | 0 |
| 2003 | 29 | 29 | 0 |
| 2002 | 24 | 24 | 0 |
| 2001 | 16 | 16 | 0 |
| 2000 | 19 | 19 | 0 |
| 1999 | 10 | 10 | 0 |
| 1998 | 19 | 19 | 0 |
| 1997 | 23 | 23 | 0 |
| 1996 | 16 | 16 | 0 |
| 1995 | 19 | 19 | 0 |
| 1994 | 18 | 18 | 0 |
| 1993 | 9 | 9 | 0 |
| 1992 | 10 | 10 | 0 |
| 1991 | 17 | 17 | 0 |
| 1990 | 13 | 13 | 0 |
| 1989 | 12 | 12 | 0 |
| 1988 | 13 | 8 | 5 |
| 1987 | 9 | 9 | 0 |
| 1986 | 14 | 7 | 7 |
| 1985 | 10 | 10 | 0 |
| 1984 | 12 | 7 | 5 |
| 1983 | 11 | 11 | 0 |
| 1982 | 13 | 13 | 0 |
| 1981 | 17 | 7 | 10 |
| 1980 | 23 | 16 | 7 |
| 1979 | 16 | 9 | 7 |
| 1978 | 24 | 18 | 6 |
| 1977 | 18 | 11 | 7 |
| 1976 | 21 | 16 | 5 |
| 1975 | 27 | 18 | 9 |
| 1974 | 19 | 10 | 9 |
| 1973 | 17 | 8 | 9 |
| 1972 | 15 | 10 | 5 |
| 1971 | 16 | 11 | 5 |
| 1970 | 32 | 24 | 8 |
| 1969 | 33 | 19 | 14 |
| 1968 | 23 | 14 | 9 |
| 1967 | 32 | 22 | 10 |
| 1966 | 25 | 15 | 10 |
| 1965 | 27 | 21 | 6 |
| 1964 | 31 | 17 | 14 |
| 1963 | 34 | 19 | 15 |
| 1962 | 29 | 17 | 12 |
| 1961 | 48 | 28 | 20 |
| 1960 | 37 | 25 | 12 |
| 1959 | 31 | 16 | 15 |
| 1958 | 34 | 20 | 14 |
| 1957 | 33 | 17 | 16 |
| 1956 | 24 | 13 | 11 |
| 1955 | 27 | 17 | 10 |
| 1954 | 37 | 24 | 13 |
| 1953 | 21 | 7 | 14 |
| 1952 | 14 | 8 | 6 |
| 1951 | 7 | 7 | 0 |
| 1950 | 16 | 9 | 7 |
| 1949 | 10 | 10 | 0 |
| 1948 | 11 | 11 | 0 |
| 1947 | 10 | 5 | 5 |
| 1946 | 17 | 11 | 6 |
| 1945 | 10 | 10 | 0 |
| 1944 | 6 | 6 | 0 |
| 1940 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| 1939 | 7 | 7 | 0 |
| 1937 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| 1935 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| 1934 | 6 | 6 | 0 |
| 1932 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| 1931 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| 1930 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| 1927 | 8 | 8 | 0 |
| 1926 | 9 | 9 | 0 |
| 1924 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| 1922 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| 1921 | 10 | 10 | 0 |
| 1920 | 7 | 7 | 0 |
| 1919 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| 1918 | 11 | 11 | 0 |
| 1917 | 11 | 11 | 0 |
| 1916 | 6 | 6 | 0 |
| 1915 | 6 | 6 | 0 |
| 1913 | 6 | 6 | 0 |
| 1896 | 7 | 7 | 0 |
| 1892 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
Top States for Cam (2024)
We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. The table below shows the five states with the highest number of births for this name in the selected year. Use the toggle to expand the list to every state with reported births.
| State | Births | Share |
|---|---|---|
| FL | 9 | |
| TX | 9 | |
| CA | 8 | |
| WA | 7 | |
| AR | 7 | |
| IA | 5 | |
| IL | 5 | |
| NY | 5 | |
| OH | 5 | |
| AZ | 5 | |
| UT | 5 |